Jonathan Rainous is composer from Cincinnati, OH, USA where he first encountered classical music and a love for America’s heartland. Once he finally began musical study he voraciously consumed a wide variety of styles, from hip-hop to Thelonius Monk to Lutosławski and a great variety of contemporary composers. This potpourri of influences is evident in his music, which can be described as stylistically diverse and rhythmically complex.

Rainous’ musical journey led him to Belmont University, where he picked up an appreciation for electronic production, jazz, and vernacular styles while earning a Bachelor’s of Music degree and studying with Bill Pursell, Mark Volker, and David McKay. After a brief personal crisis he continued study at Ithaca College, where he earned his Master’s of Music in Composition and his first international premiere (String Quartet No. 1, in València, Spain). During this time he studied with Evis Sammoutis and Jorge Villavicencio Grossmann. He is currently studying with David Felder at the University at Buffalo. Master classes include study with Ofer Ben-Amots, Stefano Gervasoni, Lei Liang, Chinary Ung, and a professional mentorship with Rick Sowash.

Currently (August 2020) his focus is music for groups of the same instrument. Two trumpet quartets, a horn sextet, and a trombone trio are all current projects, while sketches for his first Pierrot ensemble work, a brass quintet, and a solo violin sonata are also cluttering his desk.